Bobbin lifting and orienting mechanism

ABSTRACT

A method, and apparatus therefore, for lifting and orienting a bobbin regardless of the orientation of the bobbin ends upon a conveyor comprising grasping and lifting the bobbin through a pair of guides wherein the apical end thereof freely passes through its associated guide and the butt end is restricted by its associated guide to pivot the bobbin to a vertical position, with the apical end up, and raising the bobbin to a mechanism for further conveying of the bobbin to, for example, a spindle upon a spinning frame.

United States Patent 1191 Paiva Dec. 10, 1974 BOBBIN LIFTING AND ORIENTING MECHANISM Manuel S. Paiva, Swansea, Mass.

[75] Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

Sept. 19, 1973 US. Cl 198/236, 198/254, 198/285, 214/1 BB Int. Cl. B65g 47/24 Field of Search 198/33 AA, 33 AB, 33 AD, 198/237, 238, 240, 254, 282, 285, 236; 221 157, 158; 214/1 BB References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1967 Du Bois et al. 198/33 AD X Leesona Corporation, Warwick, RI.

Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Douglas D. Watts Attorney, Agent, or. Firm-Albert P. Davis; Burnett W. Norton 57] ABSTRACT 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 BOBBIN LIFTING AND ORIENTING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION .chine.

In textile apparatus for automatic tending of spinning machines such as the automatic spinning frame tending apparatus disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,403,866 issued Oct. l, 1966 to Bell et al, it is desirable for bobbins to be conveyed to stations upon the machine by means of a continuous conveyor. In such apparatus the bobbins must in some fashion be conveyed from the conveyor to the spindle for donning thereon. With these continuous bobbinconveying devices it is desirable that there be proper alignment of the bobbins upon the conveyor for the bobbin pickup and donningoperation. Should improper alignment of the bobbin on the conveyor occur, as, for example, with a bobbin being conveyed butt end first rather than apical end first, improper donning would occur since there is no provision in these devices for handling a bobbin regardless of the orientation of its ends upon the conveyor.

It is therefore highly desirable that an apparatus be provided that is capable of handling and supplying bobbins to, for example, a donning apparatus, regardless of the orientation of the ends of the incoming bobbin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention is directed to an apparatus for conveying bobbins, to, for example, a donning apparatus, regardless of alignment of the ends of the bobbins upon a conveyor, comprising a bobbin lifting and orienting mechanism which includes guides for orienting the bobbin for delivery to a spindle. The instant invention is also directed to a method for lifting and orienting bobbins by engaging a bobbin intermediate its ends and lifting and orienting the bobbin .for delivery to, for example, a donning apparatus.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is a principle object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for lifting and orienting a bobbin to a strand processing station regardless of the orientation of the ends of the bobbin upon the conveying means.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide a method for lifting and orienting a bobbin to a strand processing station regardless of the orientation of its ends upon a conveyor.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the bobbin lifting and orienting apparatus of the present invention showing an associated bobbin conveyor.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the bobbin guide mechanism of the present invention taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1. I

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the bobbin guiding and orienting mechanism with parts broken away for clearer illustration.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the bobbin gripping mechanism of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring firstly to FIG. 1 a bobbin B is shown horizontally positioned on a conveyor belt 10 with the direction in which the bobbin is conveyed being indicated by the arrow 12. Clamps 14 and 16 are shown gripping the bobbin B and are pivotally connected about a rod 18, and a second rod 20 shown in FIG. 4, respectively. These rods 18 and 20 extend through the opposing sides of housing 33 with the rod 18 secured by means of retainer rings 34 and 36 affixed to each end of the rod outside of the housing and the rod 20 likewise secured by retainer rings, not shown. The clamps are further positioned about a rod 38, which will be more fully discussed with later reference to FIG. 4, secured to the clamps by means of retainer rings, not shown, in similar fashion. A piston 42, as shown in FIG. 4, is slideable within the housing and is connected with the clamp members 14 and 16 in a fashion later discussed. The housing 33 is in turn pivotally connected about a shaft 44, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, fixedly secured to a mounting bracket 48 which is in turn connected to a lifting member 50. The member 50 is slideable along guide rods 60 and 62 for up and down movement. A double acting piston 64 is provided and is interconnected with the lifting member 50 by means of rod 66 slideable within the double acting piston 64 and fixed to the lifting member 50 so as to raise and lower the member 50, and thereby the clamps l4 and 16, when actuated. The piston is connected to an upper support member 68, which is secured to the tops of the spaced apart rods 60 and 62, with the rod 66 slideably extending through an opening in the upper support member 68, with the opening not shown. An additional holding device such as a pneumatic clamp device, indicated by the arrow 70, is suitably connected to, for example, a donning mechanism to grasp the apical end of the bobbin following lifting and orienting of the bobbin by clamps l4 and I6.

Spaced apart guide members 72 and 74 are provided to assure alignment of the housing 33, and thereby clamps l4 and 16 pivotally connected therein, as the clamps are lowered and positioned to grasp the bobbin B. These guide members 72 and 74 are secured to a base support member 76 by means of screws 78 and 80, respectively, and engage and pivotally align the housing 33 during its downward travel.

A pair of spaced apart brackets and 92 are secured to the base support member 76 by means of screws 94 and 96, and 98 and 100 respectively, as shown more clearly in FIG. 2.

An inclined guide is pivotally connected to bracket 90 by means of a pin 111 and likewise-an inclined guide 112 is pivotally secured to the bracket 92 by means ofa pin 114. As is more clearly seen in FIG. 2, guides 110 and 112 include spaced apart parallel guide members 115 and 116, and 118 and 120, respectively. The distance between each pair of the guide members is such as to permit passage of the apical end of a bobbin therethrough but to prevent the passage of the butt end of the bobbin. Therefore, as the bobbin is grasped by the clamps l4 and 16 and lifted the butt end of the bobbin is held back, as shown in FIG. 3. The apical end, however, freely passes through its associated guide and the bobbin is brought toward a vertical position since the housing 33 is thereby free to pivot about the shaft 44, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, fixed to the mounting bracket 48. The weight of the housing then causes the bobbin to complete vertical alignment as the housing 33 clears the guide members 72 and 74.

Limited stops, which may comprise a bolt 122 connected to the mounting bracket 48, as shown in FIG. 4, and a similar bolt on the opposing side of the mounting bracket 48, not shown, are positioned so as to engage the housing 33 as the housing 33 is pivoted and to arrest the pivoting when the bobbin has become vertically oriented, i.e., to insure that the bobbin does not pivot past the vertical position.

It is preferred, as shown in FIG. 3, that during the aforementioned pivoting that the particular guide beneath which the butt end of the bobbin rests is caused to pivot slightly upward which prevents possible trapping of the butt end of the bobbin beneath the guide and provides for smooth operation.

Preferably cam members 124 and 128, as shown in FIG. 1, are also provided to insure that the bobbin housing 33 and thereby the bobbin fully pivots to verticallyalign the bobbin. The cam members 124 and 128 are affixed to the frame F of, for example, a patrolling tender and positioned so as to engage the housing, should incomplete pivoting occur, and urge the housing into engagement with the limit stops and thereby vertically align the bobbin.

Referring lastly to FIG. 4, a more detailed discussion of the bobbin gripping mechanism will now be presented.

As aforementioned, piston 42 is slideably positioned within the housing or cylinder 33 and further is connected with the clamp members 14 and 16 in the following fashion. The piston 42 includes a downwardly extending tab 130 spaced apart from a second parallel downwardly extending tab, not shown, to form a recess. Positioned within the recess in side by side fashion and pivotally connected, or hinged, are clamp members 14 and 16 in a criss cross configuration. Clamp member 14 has an elongated slot 136 and clamp member 16 likewise has a similar elongated slot, not shown. The rod 38 extends through these slots and the downwardly extending tabs so that each clamp arm member is free to pivot as the piston is reciprocated.

Referring now to the configuration of the piston 42 it is to be noted that the piston includes a first circumferential recess 140 and a second circumferential recess 142, which form rings 144 and 146. Air inlets 148 and 150, which are connected to a suitable source of compressed air, extend through the piston housing to provide for reciprocation of the piston. Air inlet 150 is positioned to be adjacent the recess 142 when the piston 42 is at the top ofits stroke and air inlet 148 is positioned to be adjacent the recess 140 when the piston 42 is at the bottom of its stroke.

A seal 152 is positioned on top of the housing 33 and a cover 154 is removably secured to the top of the seal by means of bolts 156, I58 and 160. The seal is included in order to assure proper compression within the housing for reciprocating of the piston. A mechanism, not shown, is provided to reciprocate the piston in a timed relationship with the double acting piston 64. Specifically, such a mechanism provides for introducing compressed air in a fashion, later discussed. to open the clamps when the double acting piston lowers the housing 33 and the clamps l4 and 16 to the bobbin gripping position and, conversely, to close the clamps 14 and 16 when the bobbin has been transferred to a mechanism to raise the bobbin for presentation to a mechanism, for example, to donn the bobbin upon the spindle.

In operation, then, a bobbin B is carried along a conveyor belt 10 to the bobbin gripping position where the bobbin is momentarily halted by means not shown. Concurrently the double acting piston 64 is actuated to lower the housing and the clamps 14 and 16, which are in the open position, over the bobbin intermediate the apical and butt ends thereof. During travel ofthe housing 33 and the clamps l4 and 16 to the bobbin gripping position the housing 33 engages the guides 72 and 74 which pivot and orient the housing and the clamps for grasping the bobbin. Compressed air from a suitable source, not shown, is then admitted to the recess 140 through air inlet 148 to drive the piston, which is at the bottom of its stroke, upwardly to the top of its stroke, with air previously admitted to the upper recess 142 being vented through air inlet 150 along the line towards its source and through a venting valve, not shown, in the source line concurrently with introducing air to the recess 140.. Following the venting the valve, not shown, is then closed.

The foregoing described operation closes the clamps l4 and 16 upon the bobbin through the pivotal action imparted to the clamps about the rod 38. The double acting piston is then reversably actuated to raise the housing 33 and the clamps l4 and 16 to a position for interception by, for example, a donning mechanism. As the bobbin is raised it engages the guides and 112 which pivot thebobbin in the manner previously discussed, i.e., the butt end of the bobbin is intercepted by one of the guides, while the apical end of the bobbin passes freely through its associated guide which causes pivoting of the housing and thereby the bobbin toward a vertical position. The weight of the housing then causes completion of the pivoting to the vertical position, after the bobbin has cleared guide members 110 and 112, at which point the limit stop 122 and the limit stop, not shown, are engaged by the housing 33. Should, however, incomplete pivoting occur, the housing is engaged by the cam members 124 and 128 to urge the housing 33 and the bobbin into position, as aforementioned. At the top of its vertical travel the apical end of the bobbin is grasped by a suitable mechanism, such as the pneumatic clamp indicated by the arrow 70, for further transport of the bobbin. The air admitted to the recess is then vented back through air inlet 148 to a venting valve in the supply line and concurrently compressed air is admitted to the recess 142 through air inlet 150 to drive the piston 42 downwardly and open the clamps l4 and 16. The venting valve in the supply line to the inlet 150 is then closed.

The double acting piston 64 is then again actuated to lower the housing 33 and the clamps l4 and 16 again to the bobbin gripping position and begin a new cycle.

It should be apparent that the present invention may What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus'for lifting and orienting a bobbin having apical and butt ends comprising, bobbin gripping means pivotally mounted and movable from a first bobbin gripping position to a second position, first bobbin guide means and second bobbin guide means positioned intermediate said first bobbin gripping position and said second position and in the path of travel of said bobbin gripping means, one of said guide means being positioned in the path of travel of one of the ends of said bobbin and the other of said guide means being positioned in the path of travel of the other of said ends of said bobbin, each one of said first and second guide means having an aperture of greater width than the diameter of the apical end of said bobbin and of lesser width than the diameter of the butt end of said bobbin to permit passage of the apical end of the bobbin therethrough but to restrict passage of the butt end of said bobbin to thereby pivot said gripping means and said bobbin and, moving means connected to said bobbin gripping means to move said bobbin gripping means between said first bobbin gripping position and said second position.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim I wherein said moving means includes a piston, and a rod slideable within said piston and connected to said gripping means.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gripping means is positioned to engage a bobbin in a first position and wherein said guides are operable to pivot said gripping means on engagement of oneof said first and second guide means by the butt end of said bobbin in a direction to move the bobbin from said first position towards a second position.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 including pivot means for mounting said first and second guide means for pivotal rotation in response to engagement by the butt end of a bobbin.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 including further guide means positioned to align the bobbin gripping means to said first bobbin gripping position.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 including stops associated with the bobbin gripping means and positioned to locate said gripping means in said second position.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said first and second guide means includes a pair of members, said aperture being defined between said first and second members. 

1. An apparatus for lifting and orienting a bobbin having apical and butt ends comprising, bobbin gripping means pivotally mounted and movable from a first bobbin gripping position to a second position, first bobbin guide means and second bobbin guide means positioned intermediate said first bobbin gripping position and said second position and in the path of travel of said bobbin gripping means, one of said guide means being positioned in the path of travel of one of the ends of said bobbin and the other of said guide means being positioned in the path of travel of the other of said ends of said bobbin, each one of said first and second guide means having an aperture of greater width than the diameter of the apical end of said bobbin and of lesser width than the diameter of the butt end of said bobbin to permit passage of the apical end of the bobbin therethrough but to restrict passage of the butt end of said bobbin to thereby pivot said gripping means and said bobbin and, moving means connected to said bobbin gripping means to move said bobbin gripping means between said first bobbin gripping position and said second position.
 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said moving means includes a piston, and a rod slideable within said piston and connected to said gripping means.
 3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gripping means is positioned to engage a bobbin in a first position and wherein said guides are operable to pivot said gripping means on engagement of one of said first and second guide means by the butt end of said bobbin in a direction to move the bobbin from said first position towards a second position.
 4. An apparAtus in accordance with claim 3 including pivot means for mounting said first and second guide means for pivotal rotation in response to engagement by the butt end of a bobbin.
 5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 including further guide means positioned to align the bobbin gripping means to said first bobbin gripping position.
 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 including stops associated with the bobbin gripping means and positioned to locate said gripping means in said second position.
 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said first and second guide means includes a pair of members, said aperture being defined between said first and second members. 